We noted last week in our Canada Day notebook that many were wondering whether Canada might get its first Indigenous governor general. Well, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Mary Simon will be the next governor general.
Simon had been the Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs (aka Arctic) from 1994-2009 and also Canadian Ambassador to Denmark from 1999-2002.
Simon was a senior Inuit negotiator for the Canadian Constitution repatriation. She helped negotiate the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975. Simon is a past president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
Simon has also been a producer and announcer for CBC North.
"Because as the Queen's representative in Canada, I am very concerned about the circumstances that lead to some of the events that we are seeing today. I do understand as an Indigenous person that there is pain and suffering across our nation," Simon said about being the first Indigenous governor general. "When I was asked whether I would take on this important role, I was very excited and I felt that this was a position that would help Canadians together with Indigenous Peoples."
Simon is bilingual in that she speaks Inuktitut and English but not French. She noted that she had been denied the opportunity to learn French while attending a federal day school in Quebec. Simon is taking French lessons to work on her French.
One of the issues with Indigenous people being on the Supreme Court is the requirement to be fluent in English and French.
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Simon will take over for Canada Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner, who has been filling the role since late January when Julie Payette finally resigned after a series of scandals and incidents.
This has been the longest gap by far between governor generals in Canadian history. Simon will be the the 30th governor general, only the 13th Canadian in the role (1952-present).
Having a permanent governor general in the role is most helpful if there is a fall federal election.
photo and video credit: Global News
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